FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Despite ‘Trade War,’ Michigan, Kentucky, and West Virginia Are Still Looking to China
Sept. 17, 2018 (EIRNS)—Despite official Washington becoming ever more enmired in a trade war with China, individual states’ governors aren’t letting that stop them from “making their states great again.”
Today, the office of Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder announced he had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, that seeks to
“further advance innovation and cooperation within the automotive and technology sectors, including new energy and autonomous vehicle technologies,”
according to an official statement.
Interviewed today on CGTN television network, Snyder promoted U.S.-China trade, saying, “I think we need to encourage more trade rather than less.” Concerning tariffs, Snyder said, “
I hear it from Chinese companies, [as well as] American companies also concerned about how we keep this in terms of if we have issues to address. Let’s get them addressed, let’s get behind this and let’s do more business together.”
This is Snyder’s eighth visit to China.
Also, just returned from China on Sept. 13 is Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who headed an 11-person team on a 10-day tour. Nungesser was pursuing the “tourism” trade, aimed at “marketing the state” to Chinese travel firms. On their own tour of China, the group made stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin will make his first trip to China to attend the November Import Expo in Shanghai. When he announced this plan last May, he told the media,
“Kentucky is the logistical hub of North America. The UPS (United Parcel Service) world shipping hub is in Kentucky, as is DHL’s North American shipping hub. Our goal is to make sure Chinese producers know about this.”
West Virginia, having already inked its own multibillion-dollar deal with the Chinese, is expecting a visit from China Energy, on Sept. 27, to push the deal forward. Speaking of the deal on Sept. 4, Gov. Jim Justice said,
“We’re still holding it together and keeping it moving in the right direction. It’s moving, and we’re making every show. We’ve met with [China Energy] again and it’s all promising.”
Reflecting on the fact that the original motivator of the $84 billion deal, Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher, was forced to resign under scandal over the summer, Justice said, “We’re making every show, but it’s hard. We need a great Commerce Secretary, that’s for sure.”
